Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh Ministry of Water Resources Bangladesh Water Development Board Blue Gold Program Revised Final Report on Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) on Rehabilitation of Polder 43/2F June 2015 Acknowledgement The Center for Environmental and Geographic Information Services (CEGIS), a Public Trust under the Ministry of Water Resources, is greatly indebted to the Blue Gold Program (BGP) of the Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB) for assigning CEGIS to render consultancy services on Environmental Studies for Blue Gold Program for Polder 43/2F. Mr. Sujoy Chakma, Director, Planning-III, BWDB and Project Coordination Director (PCD) of Blue Gold Program; Mr. Md Masud Ahmed, previous Director and PCD of BGP; Mr. Md Abul Kausar, Executive Engineer, Planning-III and other officials of the BWDB guided and supported the CEGIS EIA team in conducting the environmental and social study. Other officials of the BGP cooperated with necessary support during the baseline survey. Mr. Hero Heering, Program Director; Mr. Dirk Smits, Team Leader; and Mr. Alamgir Chowdhury, Deputy Team Leader of BGP provided support with available necessary data and documents on Polder 43/2F to the EIA study team and also contributed with their knowledge and experiences. The CEGIS EIA team wishes to express gratitude to Engr. Md Waji Ullah, Executive Director, CEGIS for his continuous support, constructive guidance, comments and suggestions during the preparation of the EIA report. The Chief Engineer of the Southern Zone; Superintending Engineer of Barisal O&M Circle; and the Executive Engineer and officials of the BWDB, Barguna division, also provided necessary information and cooperation to the study team during field visits. The BGP officials of Patuakhali Office also extended their cooperation during the field visits of the EIA team. During the public consultation meetings, the active participation of the local community of the study area was a major factor in the successful completion of this study. CEGIS gratefully acknowledges the contributions of all the above mentioned officials/personnel, and also others who are not named here, in conducting the EIA of Polder 43/2F. i Table of Contents Acknowledgement ....................................................................................... i Table of Contents ....................................................................................... iii List of Tables ............................................................................................. xi List of Figures .......................................................................................... xiii List of Photographs .................................................................................. xiv List of Maps .............................................................................................. xv Abbreviation and Acronyms ................................................................... xviii Glossary.................................................................................................. xxii Executive Summary ............................................................................... xxiv 1. Introduction ......................................................................................... 1 1.1 Background .......................................................................................................... 1 1.2 Rationale of the Study ........................................................................................ 5 1.3 Study Area ............................................................................................................ 5 1.4 Objectives of the Study ...................................................................................... 5 1.5 Scope of Work ...................................................................................................... 6 1.6 Limitations ............................................................................................................ 6 1.7 EIA Study Team ................................................................................................... 6 1.8 Report Format ...................................................................................................... 7 2. Policy, Legal and Administrative Framework ......................................... 9 2.1 National Policies and Legislations ..................................................................... 9 2.1.1 The National Environment Policy, 1992 ................................................... 9 2.1.2 National Environmental Management Action Plan (NEMAP) 1995 ....... 9 2.1.3 Proposed National Wetland Policy (draft 1998) .................................... 11 2.1.4 The National Water Policy, 1999 ............................................................. 11 2.1.5 The National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan for Bangladesh 2004 ...................................................................................................................... 12 2.1.6 Bangladesh Climate Change Strategy and Action Plan (BCCSAP) ..... 12 2.1.7 National Water Management Plan, 2001 (Approved in 2004) ............ 12 2.1.8 Coastal Zone Policy, 2005 ........................................................................ 13 2.1.9 Coastal Development Strategy, 2006 ..................................................... 13 2.2 Legal Framework ............................................................................................... 13 2.2.1 Water Resource Management Legislation .............................................. 13 iii 2.2.2 National Water Act, 2013.......................................................................... 15 2.2.3 Environmental Legislation ......................................................................... 16 2.3 Procedure for environmental clearance ......................................................... 18 2.4 Environmental Quality Standards ................................................................... 20 2.5 Administrative Framework ............................................................................... 21 3. Approach and Methodology ................................................................. 22 3.1 EIA Process ......................................................................................................... 22 3.2 Project Description ............................................................................................ 23 3.3 Environmental and Social Baseline ................................................................ 23 3.3.1 Source and Methodology of Data Collection/Analysis .......................... 23 3.4 Scoping ............................................................................................................... 27 3.5 Bounding ............................................................................................................. 27 3.6 Major Field Investigation ................................................................................. 27 3.7 Environmental and Social Impact Assessment ............................................ 28 3.8 Impact Quantification and Evaluation............................................................ 28 3.8.1 Assessment Methodology ......................................................................... 28 3.8.2 Magnitude .................................................................................................... 29 3.8.3 Sensitivity .................................................................................................... 29 3.8.4 Assessment of Residual Impacts ............................................................. 30 3.9 Environmental Management Plan ................................................................... 30 3.10 EIA Report Preparation ..................................................................................... 30 4. Project Description ............................................................................. 32 4.1 General ................................................................................................................ 32 4.2 Objective ............................................................................................................. 32 4.3 Present Status of Water Management Infrastructures ............................... 32 4.3.1 Present Status of Drainage Khals ............................................................ 35 4.3.2 Problems and Issues in the Polder .......................................................... 36 4.4 Proposed Interventions in Polder 43/2F ........................................................ 36 4.4.1 Re-sectioning of Embankment ................................................................. 36 4.4.2 Repair of Water Control Structures ......................................................... 36 4.4.3 Construction of Water Control Structures .............................................. 37 4.4.4 Khal Re-excavation .................................................................................... 37 4.4.5 Temporary Protection ................................................................................ 37 4.5 Construction Details .......................................................................................... 41 iv 4.5.1 Description of Activities ............................................................................. 41 4.5.2 Construction Schedule ............................................................................... 42 4.5.3 Materials